Rapidly attaching, elevation adjustable, universal weapon rest

ABSTRACT

A firearm rest is provided that quickly, quietly, and easily permits mounting to all known firearms, including all long guns, such as rifles, primitive muzzle loading weapons, and shotguns as well as pistols and crossbows. The weapon is positioned upon, but not fastened to, the lower surface, or cradle, of a U-shaped weapon rest. This embodiment of the invention is easily, quickly, and quietly adjusted to the needed elevation, and even when secured in place can still articulate easily to the right or left for tracking a target. Another feature of the invention is a lower bi-pod support fastened to a mono-pod with the firearm receiver above and supported by a height adjustable monopod. The invention lower bi-pod portion permits resting directly on the ground or on the shooter&#39;s thigh as seated upright on the ground or on an armrest of an elevated seat supporting the weapon to the shooters eye level, or aiming and shooting level.

This non-provisional patent application is related to previously filed application Ser. No. 61/113,051

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to firearms and marksmanship and, more specifically, is directed to gun rests and weapon stabilization.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Many shooters and hunters utilize an assortment of firearms and weapons from seated or other positions that require the shooter or hunter to accomplish the shot from an off-hand or free-hand position. This limits the shooter's or hunter's range (distance) for an accurate shot. Many hunters and shooters also use elevation devices such as climbing stands, ladder stands, and lock-on seats to provide a longer and broader view. All of these devices essentially are an elevated seat.

Many elevated hunting and or shooting systems are made of hollow, tubular, and light weight metals that would suffer considerable weakening should anything be attached by clamping, drilling, screwing, fastening, or otherwise affixed even temporarily to the elevation device. Even the smallest crack, crimp, pinch, or hole in the tubular metal will considerably weaken the elevated system and place the user at significant risk. Many of these devices incorporate an armrest into the structure of the device. This armrest serves two (2) functions. One function is as a comfortable arm rest, and a second function is as a structural component of the device. As an armrest, it is too low to support a gun unless the shooter is quite short (for example, less than four feet and ten inches tall), whether it is from an elevated device or any chair with armrests. Every year many hunters and shooters suffer falls from elevated devices. Furthermore, anything that attaches to the device, in addition to likely weakening the device, is very likely to resulting in impaling the user in the event of a fall. Therefore, most elevated hunting device manufacturers forbid the attachment of anything to the device, and warn that to do so shall void any product warranty.

Yet, the lack of a firearm rest on the armrest of the elevated hunting device limits the range (distance) that an accurate shot can be accomplished.

As a result, most available weapon rests are utilized for bench shooting such as range target shooting and sighting in. Few firearm rests are actually intended for use while actually hunting. Thus, there is a need in the field for a weapon rest that will bridge the distance when in a seated position in an elevated device, from a supporting level (whether at arm rest or tabletop level) to eye level (aiming and shooting level). Also, there is a need in the field for a weapon rest that will bridge the distance, when in a seated-on-the-ground position, from the ground or thigh level to eye level (aiming and shooting level). Therefore, there is a need for a light weight and non-bulky firearm rest that will stabilize any weapon and can be quickly and quietly positioned for use.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a firearm rest is provided that quickly, quietly, and easily permits mounting to all known firearms, including all long guns, such as rifles, primitive muzzle loading weapons, and shotguns as well as pistols and crossbows. The weapon is positioned upon, but not fastened to, the lower surface, or cradle, of a U-shaped weapon rest. This embodiment of the invention is easily, quickly, and quietly adjusted to the needed elevation, and even when secured in place can still articulate easily to the right or left for tracking a target. Another feature of the invention is a lower bi-pod support fastened to a mono-pod with the firearm receiver above and supported by a height adjustable monopod. The invention lower bi-pod portion permits resting directly on the ground or on the shooter's thigh as seated upright on the ground or on an armrest of an elevated seat supporting the weapon to the shooters eye level, or aiming and shooting level.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective of an elevation of the weapon rest of the present invention identifying it primary elements as an upper U-shaped weapon rest 1, a lower bi-pod support receiver 2, separated by a height adjustable monopod element 3, which also connects weapon rest 1 with lower bipod 2.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 identifying an upper U-shaped weapon rest 1, including a closure 2 at or near the top portion of the U-shaped weapon rest to stabilize the firearm, but not affixing or attaching the firearm to the weapon rest. Also shown is an adjustable monopod external element 3, which includes

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In one embodiment (FIG. 1) of the invention there is a generally upper U-shaped weapon receiver, or cradle 1, to stabilize the weapon during aiming and shooting supported on an adjustable monopod 3 fastened or otherwise connected below the weapon receiver 1. The height adjustable monopod 3 connects or is fastened to both the upper U-shaped weapon rest and a lower bipod 2. In this embodiment the lower bi-pod and upper weapon receiver may be constructed of a rigid, fixed shape material. A preferred embodiment of the invention employs lower bi-pod 2 and upper weapon receiver 1 constructions of a rigid but semi-flexible material without memory so that the unit can be shaped (by hand) as desired to best fit the hunter position situation. Such materials may include, among others, certain metals like aluminum and aluminum alloys, as well as certain fiber reinforced polymers absent the shape memory characteristics of shape memory polymers, or where such shape memory characteristics are circumvented.

The upper weapon rest 1 and lower bipod 2 portions articulate on an axis formed by the adjustable monopod 3. In another embodiment the upper and lower parts have a retention device to limit elevation and prevent complete separation of the parts. This retention device may be internal or external. The upper and lower units can rotate up to 360 degrees.

The invention is optimally constructed with a telescoping monopod which allows for vertical adjustment. This adjustment is needed because of the different heights of the users and differing heights of various weapons. FIG. 2 more particularly depicts such a construction, showing. A locking mechanism 5 to “set” the desired vertical adjustment may be a female threaded member within the upper unit with a male threaded unit on the lower monopod portion. The locking mechanism may also be a threaded fastener penetrating the upper portion locking against the lower rod. In another embodiment the locking mechanism may be a ball and spring loaded device whereby the spring loaded ball position along the surface of the internal length of the telescoping monopod is pressed against one of a series of a hole (smaller than the diameter of the ball) located in the external length of the telescoping monopod. Locking may also be accomplished by clevis pins and holes or cotter pins. In another embodiment the method of locking may be a rack and pinion geared drive. There may also be ratcheting devices to lock the telescoping portions of the monopod as the desired height. In another embodiment the elevation may be changed and locked by a trigger-actuated elevating and locking device. Of course, the invention anticipates the use of other known means of setting the height of the U-shaped weapon rest by adjusting the length of the supporting telescoping monopod.

The embodiment may have built-in or separately attaching accessories such as a camera or cell phone holding device, a drink holder, a range finder attachment, an insect repellant holder, and ammo clips, artificial light and laser attachments. These accessories may be attached with a variety of attachment methods.

The upper weapon receiver may be of sufficient size to match the size of any firearm. A closure mechanism 5 on the upper part of the weapon receiver 1 may be mechanical and constructed of hard materials such as metals (and including threaded securing means), or may be non-mechanical, such as formed of elastic bands, or Velcro (hook-and-loop), or other devices. The closure mechanism 5 typically will pass across the top of the cradle formed by the U-shaped weapon rest to stabilize and support the weight of the weapon, but it does so without hard-clamping or “affixing” the portion of the weapon resting in the rest, or cradle 4 formed by the rest, so the weapon can move independently of the cradle during aiming and firing.

The lower bi-pod portion 2 of the invention may provide legs 9 of sufficient size to be formed to match any lower surface, such as an armrest of variable widths or to provide a stable bipod support on various surfaces. The lower bi-pod portion in the present invention is constructed of materials that may be shaped to the users' needs without memory so it retains a formed shape until reformed by the user.

The monopod 3 portion of the embodiment may be constructed of multiple tubing sections or two sections inserted one within the other to permit telescoping for height adjustment, as shown in FIG. 2 with an internal rod 8, or tube, mating, or locking, within an external tubing 6 at various lengths from approximately 5″ to approximately 60″ to afford a range of universality in height for differing applications and for differently sized hunters. Telescoping is provided by identically shaped tubes that are concentric cylinders or are formed of identically shaped tubes of a multiple of three or more straight sides. For example, tubes formed of a multiple of three or more straight sides may include tube shapes such as a square, a pentagon, a hexagon, an octagon and a shape formed of any number of sides greater than eight,

The invention may be formed of materials such as metals, plastics, wood or composites, ceramics, or combinations of materials. The device may be coated with various coatings or finishes in any color or pattern or combinations thereof. Such coating may act to prevent or reduce wear and oxidation (if an iron containing metal). Also, if the coating includes some form of grit, it may also act to reduce slipping against various surfaces during the act of aiming and shooting.

In use it has been demonstrated that the invention vastly improves marksmanship and accuracy, particularly when the targets are small or quite distant. The invention is useful because it is capable of being quickly and quietly accepting of any weapon and allows a wide range of positioning, including prone, sitting upright, or standing. The superiority of this invention is reflected by its light weight (depending on materials of construction), and that it merely rests on, and does not “mount” or “attach” to any lower surface, offering the hunter or shooter a wide range of positioning. This device also fits within the manufacturers' requirements of elevated systems' warranty provisions requiring that there be no attachments to the armrest or any part of the elevated device. The invention is a bi-pod transformable into an adjustable monopod construction, with a unique weapons receiver that secures to any known firearm or crossbow.

The advantages of the present invention is the provision of a weapon rest device that quickly, easily, and quietly attaches to any known firearm or crossbow. The invention is unique in that it is positioned (and rests) upon but not attached to, even temporarily, any lower surface upon which it may rest. This point is particularly important to users of elevated devices such as climbers, ladder stands, lock-on systems. In use, the invention is unique in that it is actually used in hunting and shooting instead of being a “sighting in” bench type device. In use the invention allows horizontal and vertical movement without loss of stability. In use the invention allows multiple positions, and rapid yet silent position changes. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A weapon rest comprising: (a) an upper U-shaped weapon receiver forming a cradle for the weapon; (b) a height adjustable monopod connected to and supporting the upper U-shaped weapon receiver; and (c) a bipod support connected to the lower portion of the adjustable monopod.
 2. The weapon rest of claim 1 wherein the upper U-shaped weapon receiver includes a securing mechanism that passes across the top of the cradle formed by the U-shaped weapon rest to stabilize the weapon without affixing the weapon to the receiver.
 3. The weapon rest of claim 1 wherein the vertically adjustable monopod is formed by two identically shaped lengths of, respectively, smaller and larger tubes.
 4. The weapon rest of claim 3 wherein the identically shaped tubes are cylindrical or formed of a multiple of three or more straight sides.
 5. The weapon rest of claim 4 wherein the tubes formed of a multiple of three or more straight sides are selected from the group of tube shapes consisting of a triangle, a square, a pentagon, a hexagon, an octagon and a shape formed of any number of sides greater than eight.
 6. The weapon rest of claim 2 wherein the securing mechanism may be selected from the group consisting of mechanical and non-mechanical constructions.
 7. The weapon rest of claim 6 wherein the mechanical constructions comprise threaded securements.
 8. The weapon rest of clam 6 wherein the non-mechanical constructions are selected from the group consisting of elastic bands and hook-and-loop material.
 9. The weapon rest of claim 1 wherein the bipod is constructed of a material that may be shaped to the users' needs without memory.
 10. The weapon rest of claim 1 wherein the upper weapon receiver is constructed of a material that may be shaped to the users' needs without memory.
 11. The weapon rest of claim 10 wherein the construction material is selected from aluminum and aluminum alloys.
 12. The weapon rest of claim 9 wherein the construction material is selected from aluminum and aluminum alloys.
 13. The weapon rest of claim 11 wherein the construction material is selected from fiber reinforced polymer materials.
 14. The weapon rest of claim 10 wherein the construction material is selected from fiber reinforced polymer materials. 